Insights - 24 May 2024
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SPECIAL PREVIEW: LIGHTS ON FOR VIVID SYDNEY 2024
Australia’s biggest festival of light, music, ideas and food kicks off tonight in a blaze of colour from 6pm.
Almost 3.5 million people attended Vivid Sydney 2023 and another bumper turnout is expected over 23 nights between 24 May and 15 June 2024.
Events will take place throughout the CBD and surrounds, including the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Circular Quay, Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, Machine Hall, Darling Harbour, Carriageworks and The Goods Line in Ultimo.
In 2024, the festival’s creative direction is ‘Humanity’, an invitation for everyone to reflect and engage as a community in the world’s most beautiful city and celebrate what makes us human – love, kindness, compassion and creativity.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism John Graham said: “Vivid Sydney has become such an important night out for families across Sydney and the state who are doing it tough due to the cost-of-living squeeze. It is also a welcome period for businesses in the CBD during the colder months.”
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said: “Vivid Sydney is an unmissable time of the year for Sydneysiders and visitors alike, but the best way to enjoy it is to leave your car at home and use public transport.
“We’ll have 400 additional rail services running on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays throughout the Vivid Sydney season, as well as additional bus and light rail options."
Learn more here.
Vivid Sydney is proudly owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW.
The community of visionaries that brings the festival to life includes Destination NSW General Manager Events Julie Turpie, Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini and the entire team at Destination NSW.
From our technical and operational teams to our contracting, procurement, marketing, publicity and stakeholder engagement staff, it takes a village to raise the Southern Hemisphere's leading multi-artform festival each year.
Thank you also to our fantastic program partners, sponsors, venue partners, suppliers and the government agencies that help facilitate a safe, smooth event delivery.
Pictured above: Destination staff at the Vivid Sydney 2024 program launch.
VENUES TO OPEN LATER FOR VIVID SYDNEY
Inner Sydney licensed venues can stay open an extra two hours on Sundays from 26 May to 9 June, allowing festivalgoers to continue enjoying Vivid Sydney 2024 longer after dark.
Eligible venues can operate until midnight on these three Sundays as part of the NSW Government’s year-round trading extensions for special events.
Extended trading on Sunday nights is available to hotels, general bars, clubs, small bars and dedicated live music and performance venues in the CBD, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo and Potts Point in the City of Sydney local government area.
Learn more here.
GROUNDBREAKING TEKNO TRAIN EXPERIENCE BY
PAUL MAC FOR VIVID SYDNEY
An Australian-first experience aboard Sydney Trains is coming to Vivid Sydney.
Tekno Train Experience by Paul Mac will see ticketholders take their seat on what appears to be a standard train. However, as it leaves Central Station, the adventure begins. Hidden lights and speakers will create a communal experience with synchronised lights, driven by an original techno soundtrack.
As the train moves, the lights and music will rhythmically adjust to match the train’s speed and changing landscape outside, crafting melodic, unforgettable rides on Sydney’s city circle, across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and along disused train lines.
Learn more here.
DARK SPECTRUM RETURNS TO VIVID SYDNEY
An electronic labyrinth of light, colour and sound will pulse to life when Dark Spectrum: A New Journey reawakens beneath the streets during Vivid Sydney.
An all-new immersive experience for 2024, the one-kilometre trail in the abandoned railway tunnels underneath Sydney’s Wynyard Station will feature eight themed chambers, each with a monochromatic colour scheme and backing track of electronic dance music.
Presented by Vivid Sydney and Sony Music Entertainment, the journey will take visitors through 300 rhythmic lasers and strobe lights, 500 hanging handmade lanterns, 250 search lights and 700 illuminated arrows within an intricate maze.
Learn more here.
NSW SHINES AT AUSTRALIAN TOURISM EXCHANGE 2024
Destination NSW and more than 130 NSW destinations, products and experiences joined together this week to promote the state to the world at Australian Tourism Exchange 2024 (ATE24).
Australia’s biggest annual travel industry event took place at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 19-23 May 2024. Around 2600 delegates participated in this year’s program, with buyers attending from more than 37 countries, alongside 70 international and Australian media.
The four-day trade program was an opportunity for global distributors including wholesalers and online travel agents to connect with visitor economy businesses from around the country. Delivered by Tourism Australia, ATE24 combined more than 50,000 scheduled business appointments with networking events.
There were 131 NSW destination, product and experience businesses represented at ATE24, including 67 from regional NSW. Destination NSW helped these businesses prepare for the event via its capability-building NSW First Program. It also supported five new businesses to attend ATE24 through its New Product Pathway program, which aims to provide them with an opportunity to display their products, make overseas contacts and negotiate deals.
Additionally, as part of its Aboriginal Tourism Activation Program under Closing the Gap, Destination NSW supported seven NSW Aboriginal visitor economy businesses to attend.
Minister for Tourism John Graham joined Destination NSW CEO Steve Cox and Acting General Manager, Product Policy and Engagement Kylie-Jane Menzies following the opening of the event to meet with NSW operators.
Australian Tourism Exchange 2025 will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre from 28 April to 1 May.
Learn more about ATE24 and view a gallery of images from the event here.
TOURISM MINISTERS MEET AT ATE24
NSW Minister for Tourism John Graham joined a Tourism Ministers meeting during the 2024 Australian Tourism Exchange.
The meeting, chaired by Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Senator Don Farrell, was an opportunity for the ministers to discuss their continued commitment to supporting the visitor economy.
Topics included current conditions in the visitor economy, such as returning international visitor numbers, the impact of cost-of-living pressures, rising inbound aviation capacity and improving accessibility to ensure that people of all abilities can enjoy Australian visitor experiences.
A new practical guide designed to help visitor economy businesses cater for the needs of people with disabilities and long-term health conditions, called the WELCOME Framework, was ratified during the meeting.
Data from Tourism Research Australia shows that in the June quarter 2023 alone, the total value of domestic travel by people with accessibility needs and people who travelled with them was $6.8 billion, representing 21 per cent of total domestic tourism spend in that quarter.
FREE WORKSHOPS TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS
The Choose Tourism NSW Program is inviting visitor economy operators to a series of free workshops to learn the latest techniques to attract and retain quality staff.
Attendees will hear from experts who have worked with leading employer brands including Virgin and Hard Rock, along with regional NSW success stories such as Australia’s first social enterprise hotel, Hotel Etico.
Topics will include the psychology of talent attraction, how to use free and low-cost artificial intelligence technology to retain younger staff and boost productivity and why people with a disability make great employees.
The first professional development session was held in Queanbeyan on 21 May 2024.
Workshops will also be held in the following locations:
- Tamworth - 30 May 2024
- Albury - 6 June 2024
- Orange - 17 June 2024
- Newcastle - 21 June 2024
- Byron Bay - 26 June 2024
- Wollongong - 28 June 2024
To register for a workshop or learn more about the program and speakers click here.
CHOOSE TOURISM NSW SCHOOLS PROGRAM KICKS OFF
The Choose Tourism NSW Program is holding a series of Tourism & Hospitality Experience Schools Days across the state.
The Schools Day aims to promote careers in the visitor economy to young people. During a recent full-day program at The Lodge in Jamberoo, presenters including Jen Downes from TAFE NSW, Brent McInnes and Tim Nguyen from The Lodge, Grant Wright from Jamberoo Action Park, Ian Bradburn from Optimum Experiences and Balunn Jones Yours & Owls Festival shared their experience and insights with students.
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS
It’s National Volunteer Week, Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering, which highlights their important role in our community. We’d like to say thank you to all the volunteers who give their time to support the visitor economy, including assisting at events, welcoming cruise passengers into our ports and showcasing our museums, galleries and Visitor Information Centres throughout NSW. Hundreds of volunteers also join us for Vivid Sydney each year and we couldn’t bring Australia’s largest festival to life without them. The Vivid Sydney Volunteer Program, in collaboration with Casual Hands, welcomed 701 amazing volunteers in 2023, who contributed 18,348 hours of customer service.
WORKSHOPS: EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENT
Destination NSW is presenting a series of Experience Development workshops during 2024. Delivered under the capability-focused NSW First Program, these free, full-day workshops are designed to assist businesses including tour, attraction and accommodation providers to create and refine visitor experiences that meet visitor needs and showcase the strengths of NSW. The workshops explore the foundations of creating bookable visitor experiences and explore focus areas such as agritourism, nature, culinary and wellness experiences. The next workshops will be held in the Southern Highlands (18 June) and Hilltops (20 June). Registrations open soon for Bellingen (25 June) and Moama (4 July).
INDIGENOUS ART WORKSHOPS
The National Indigenous Art Fair (NIAF) will host a series of workshops on 29-30 June 2024. These will include ochre on paper, lampshade making and weaving. Held at Sydney's Overseas Passenger Terminal, NIAF offers an opportunity to buy artworks directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from remote community-owned art centres. The 2023 fair attracted 22,000 visitors. NIAF 2024 is supported proudly by Destination NSW.
WATCH: BUSINESS EVENTS NSW SHOWCASE
Destination NSW highlighted immersive visitor experiences throughout regional NSW to more than 100 event planners and buyers at its inaugural Business Events NSW Showcase. Held at Sydney’s Collider event space on 15 May 2024, the showcase was an opportunity to bring to life Destination NSW’s fresh approach to growing the business events sector in regional NSW. View highlights from the event here.
HAVE YOUR SAY: VISITOR ECONOMY STRATEGY
The NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2030 is being reviewed and evolved to showcase the best of NSW to the world by focussing on the diverse experiences it offers visitors. Destination NSW is inviting visitor economy stakeholders from across the state to contribute their insights and expertise to the review. This feedback will help identify opportunities and barriers to growth.
ENTRIES OPEN FOR NSW TOURISM AWARDS
The 2024 NSW Tourism Awards, presented by NSW Tourism Association, are open for entry. They recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements in the NSW visitor economy and form part of the Australian Tourism Awards. Categories include attractions, tour and transport, festivals and events, food, wine and accommodation. The awards are supported proudly by Destination NSW.
WOLLONGONG OPEN MIKE NIGHT
The Office of the 24-Hour Commissioner will hold its first Open Mike Night outside of Sydney in Wollongong on 28 May 2024. Guest speakers will include Minister for Tourism, Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham and the NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues. Following their addresses, a panel discussion will explore approaches to the creation of vibrant, inclusive spaces, as well as emerging night-time economy trends and challenges.
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM CLOSING SOON
Destination NSW has partnered with EarthCheck to help visitor economy businesses attain Sustainability Skills Micro-credentials. The free micro-credentials are practical, accessible and designed specifically for the visitor economy across three courses: Sustainability 101, Sustainability and your Experience Delivery and Sustainability Management. You can submit an expression of interest here and have until 30 June 2024 to complete the courses.
BROADWAY THEATRE FOR PARRAMATTA
Designs for the Riverside Theatre redevelopment have been released, with Western Sydney visitors and residents set to enjoy a 1500-seat Broadway-style lyric theatre, refurbished 760-seat Riverside playhouse theatre and 424-seat drama theatre. The NSW Government is contributing $40 million to the project.
WHITE WEEKEND FOR THREDBO
Thredbo is preparing for the opening of the 2024 winter ski season on June 8. In a promising sign, the snowfields were transformed into a white winter wonderland last weekend. Freezing temperatures allowed for the first two big nights of snowmaking for the year. Additionally, snow fell on the slopes and in the village on Saturday morning.
CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE WORKSHOP
The National Centre for Outdoor Risk & Readiness is partnering with Risk Resolve's Dr Clare Dallat to present a series of Incident Response Workshops during August. The workshops are suited to outdoor professionals, volunteer leaders, outdoor community groups and outdoor organisation leadership teams.
WESTERN SYDNEY EXPERIENCE WORKSHOP
An interactive workshop suited to both budding entrepreneurs and long-established small businesses is being held in Parramatta. It will focus on the opportunities to create bookable experiences ahead of Western Sydney International Airport opening. The workshop will be held on 27 June 2024.
AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST TRAVEL SPENDERS
The latest CommBank iQ Cost of Living Insights Report shows Australians over the age of 65 are driving discretionary spending growth. The report uses payments data from approximately seven million customers to track spending trends. CommBank iQ Head of Innovation and Analytics Wade Tubman said: "Australians in the 60 and older age bracket are spending above inflation, especially on activities like travel, which is up 11 per cent, general retail up nine per cent and eating out up seven per cent." Nationally, spending increased by 2.5 per cent, with spending in regional areas outpacing metro areas.
RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC AIRLINE TRAVEL LEVELS
The ACCC’s latest Domestic Airline Competition in Australia report shows Taylor Swift’s concerts resulted in domestic passenger numbers exceeding pre-pandemic levels for the first time. The report also reveals that Australia’s aviation sector appears to have recovered, with passenger levels and capacity returning to pre-pandemic levels. The country's major airlines carried 4.9 million domestic passengers in March 2024, representing 98.8 per cent of passenger figures in March 2019. The airlines flew around 6.2 million seats in March 2024, just below the seat capacity recorded in March 2019.
VISITOR ECONOMY WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS
PARRAMATTA RELEASES DRAFT 25-YEAR VISION: The vision, which charts the city's transformation into a global powerhouse, is now on public exhibition. Learn more
NEW BLUE PLAQUES FOR NSW: Road safety campaigner Ken Thomas was honoured this week with a blue plaque in his home town of Harden Murrumburrah. Learn more
BROADMEADOW'S FUTURE MAPPED FOR NEXT 30 YEARS: The City of Newcastle has released its vision for Broadmeadow, including new homes and jobs while maintaining the suburb's focus as a premier sport and entertainment destination. Learn more
HUNTER VALLEY LEGENDS AWARDS: Colin Peterson and John Drayton have been inducted as Living Legends at the 2024 Hunter Valley Legends awards, while Hunter Valley Stays was awarded 2024 Accommodation Operator of the Year. Learn more
FOLLOW DESTINATION NSW ON LINKEDIN: Stay up to date with all the latest Destination NSW initiatives by following us on LinkedIn. Click here
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